Okano Fang head with brass inlay - Gabon

Description

Powerful Okano Fang head from Gabon, with deep patina and striking brass inlay. An impressive object that instantly reveals the spiritual power of the Fang.

Origin & meaning: Made by the Okano Fang in Gabon, this Fang head was part of a reliquary, a sacred ancestral altar in which the skulls and bones of important ancestors were kept. The heads served as sentinel images: they protected the remains and symbolised the presence and strength of the ancestors. The inlaid brass nails emphasise the ritual character and add intensity to the face. The strong patina shows age and long-term use.

Size & condition: The head measures 40 cm high (including plinth) and 21 cm wide. Purchased from a private collection in Oegstgeest, provenance in situ Gabon, 20th century or earlier. According to the collector, possibly 19th century. Condition: underside roughly moulded (original wood), no active wood loss, traces of age appropriate.

Product photographs show the object on offer exactly as photographed. Any interior images are AI-generated impressions, included solely to illustrate scale and presentation.